Ellis Hooper celebrated a composed debut at the heart of the Crawley defence by twice helping his side come from behind to earn a hard-fought point.

But the young defender refused to claim the credit for Reds' dramatic 89th minute point-saver even though at first glance it appeared that he had got the decisive touch on an inswinging corner from another debutant Neil Le Bihan.

"I'd liked to have claimed it as mine, but it went straight in from Neil and he wouldn't be too happy so I'd better not," smiled Hooper.

The 21-year-old, who joined Crawley from County League Horsham YMCA in the close season, could barely summon the energy to drag himself off the pitch at the end although he wasn't the only player who wilted in the 90-degree heat.

Half an hour and a cold shower later the sweat was still pouring off him, but Hooper was able to reflect on an impressive first performance at the higher level.

"I didn't think it went too badly although maybe we could have done better with the two goals they scored," he said.

"But compared to the County League I had more time to play and I enjoyed that part of it. They only had three shots on target and scored twice so we are a bit disappointed not to win, but scoring our second so late we were grateful for a point in the end."

Hooper can't have come across too many 6ft.8in centre forwards in the County League before so it must have been something of a shock to encounter Kevin Francis for the first time.

The former Birmingham City beanpole might not have the silkiest of first touches, but leave him unmarked in the box and he will invariably punish you as Reds found to their cost in the 12th minute when Francis barely had to get off the ground to sent a bullet header past Andy Little from Darren Simkin's angled cross.

It was no more than the Pitmen deserved after a purposeful opening. In contrast, a Crawley side containing four debutants relied far too much on the long ball early on when the suffocating heat demanded that they kept possession and make their opponents do all the running around.

Francis's strike partner Mark Jones was twice denied by the crossbar before Reds had even registered an effort on target, but once Nigel Brake pushed further forward and gave Crawley's midfielders time to play the home side began to build up a head of steam.

Mo Harkin impressed in a 20-minute spell either side of half-time down the right and it was no surprise that Crawley's 56th-minute equaliser stemmed from that flank.

Fullback Ben Judge found Nic McDonnell and he threaded a perfect reverse pass into the path of Dave Stevens, who rounded goalkeeper Mark Gayle before applying a stylish finish from the tightest of angles.

It was no more than Crawley deserved at that stage and should have provided the platform for an opening day win.

Instead the title favourites let their guard down at the back although, in fairness, only Francis's telescopic right leg could have diverted a loose ball into the path of Derek Rae who made no mistake to restore Hednesford's lead on 67 minutes.

Crawley boss Billy Smith threw on two more debutants and, as the Pitmen dug themselves into a defensive hole, Le Bihan came up with a dramatic leveller when his corner dipped under the bar as Gayle flapped under pressure from Hooper and Marc Pullan, captain for the day in the absence of the injured Peter Fear.

It was hardly a performance to justify Crawley's tag as favourites for the title and the season was only 17 minutes old when the first mutterings of discontent could be heard from the notoriously hard to please Crawley faithful.

But Smith was happy enough with a point.

"I wasn't too disappointed with the way we played," he said. "Hednesford aren't a bad side and they showed that once again it's going to be a very competitive league. Once we pushed Nigel on and kept the ball better we looked quite good and fitness-wise we finished stronger, they were wilting at the end.

"So it was a good point in the end. Defensively we let in a couple of poor goals but Dave Stevens took his goal really well. He looked sharp and showed that he will score goals for us."

Smith may freshen up his side for tonight's tough-looking assignment at relegated Dover Athletic (7.45pm).

Crawley: Little, Judge, Payne, Hooper, Pullan, Harkin, Holmes, Le Bihan, McDonnell (sub: Hockton 76), Stevens, Brake (sub: Patterson 76). Unused subs: Bagnall, Hemsley, McKoy.

Hednesford: Gayle, Simkin, Lucas, Robinson, Brindley, Ryder, Wray (sub: Lancashire 70, sub: Jenkins 88), Rae, Francis, Jones (sub: Piearce 81), Adams.

Referee: C.Plummer (Rochester).

Attendance: 863.